Hairpin



- Nov. 11, 1941. A. CHESSIN 2,262,223

HAIRPIN Filed March 6, 1941 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 381,931

6 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with hairpins of the type in which two prongs are connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of this loop, and, more particularly, with means for prying the prongs apart.

The usual manner of opening a pin of this type, known in the trade as bobby pins, is by inserting a fingernail between the ends of the prongs. In doing this, women often injure their fingernails, sometimes scratching them and sometimes even breaking them. The object of the present invention is to facilitate the opening of the bobby pin, avoiding the inconvenience and possible injury to the fingernails due to the present day method of prying the prongs apart. It is also an object of the present invention to cause the prongs to remain separated at the ends until the pin is inserted in the hair, and to easily close the pin again once it has been properly inserted in the hair. A further object of the invention is to make this operation with the use of one hand only, leaving the other hand free to manipulate the hair. A still further object is to make this improvement without more than a trifling addition to the cost of the pin and without detracting from the inconspicuous appearance of the pin. Other objects will become apparent from the specification which follows and from the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a bobby pin embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the same device. Figure 3 is a side viewrsimilar to Figure 1 but with the ends of the prongs pryed apart. Figure 4 is a cross section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a strip of channel metal. Figure *6 is a perspective view of the same strip bent to form a loop. Figure 7 is a modification of the device, the loop such as is shown in Figure 6 being replaced by an eyelet, one of the flanges of the eyelet being cut oif to show the arrangement. Figure 8 is a cross section along the line 8-8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but for another modification of the invention. Figure 10 is a similar view of still another modification. Figure 11 is a modification of the strip illustrated in Figure 5, and Figure 12 is a corresponding modification of the loop illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to the figures in detail, I is a bobby pin 01 a well known type. It has two prongs 2 and 3, the first one being corrugated and slightly shorter than the second. The prongs are connected by a loop 4 the spring action of which holds the prongs pressed against one another.

Within the hairpin loop 4 is an inner loop 5,

shown in enlarged detail in Figure 6. This loop 5 is formed by bending the channeled metal strip 8 shown-in Figure 5. In Figure 7, the looplis replaced by the eyelet 1, having flanges 8 and 9, as seen in Figure 8, the flange 9 being cut oil in Figure 7 to show the interaction of the eyelet and pln. In Figure 9, the loop is replaced by a solid block Ill having flanges like the eyelet of Figure 7, only one of these flanges, H, being shown. In Figure 10, the block I2 is of circular form. One of its two flanges is denoted by the numeral Hi. .In Figure 11, the channeled strip 8 from which the loop is formed has a middle portion I4 which is not channeled but fiat.

To open a pin such as is shown in Figure 1, one only has to hold it upright against a solid surface, for instance the top of a table, grasp the loop ,5 between the thumb and the index finger of one hand, then push the loop downward. The'prongs being of slightly different length, the shorter one of them will be caused to separate from the longer one, as the loop 5 is moved downward, thus opening the pin. After inserting the pin in the hair, the loop 5 is moved back to its original position. While the pin is thus manipulated, the other hand remains free to adjust and hold the hair ready for the insertion of the pin.

- The loop 5 and the block I l are tapered towards the open ends of the prongs, i. e. they are somewhat wedge shaped, which facilitates the operation when the bobby pin is stiff. When the pin is less stiff, the eyelet I or block l2 may be found to be more adequate. The loop or eyelet is preferably made of metal because it is cheaper to make it of metal, especially as very thin metal can be used for the purpose. Cheapness of manufacture is an important item in this class of articles. Another advantage of using metal is that owing to the thinness of the metal the loop constitutes a very lnconspicuous addition to the regular bobby pin. Ordinarily, it is desired to make the pin as little visible as possible. When the block construction is used in lieu of the loop, some appropriate plastic is used for the material and the material is colored to match the color of the hair. In some cases, namely when the pin is used also for decorative purposes, a precious stone or some other ornament may be mounted on the block.

Generally speaking, the open loop 5 is much open loop, one is able to push the pin all the way into the hair. The opening oi the loop is made the pin is being inserted, the loop, open or closed,v

reassumes its original position at the top of the pin by the pressure of the entering hair, so that it is not necessary to do anything more to the pin.

To facilitate the bending of the strip 6 into the loop 5, the construction illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 may be adopted.

Many variations of this invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and need not be further enumerated or illustrated here.

I claim;

1. The combination with a hairpin comprising two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of said loop, of a member within said loop having a peripheral channel in sliding contact with said prongs, the maximum width of said member within said peripheral channel being sufficiently great to cause said prongs to be pried apart when said member is moved towards the open ends of said prongs.

2. The combination with a hairpin comprising two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of said loop, ofa member within said loop having a peripheral channel in sliding contact with said prongs, said member tapering towards the open ends of said prongs and the maximum width of said member when said member is moved towards said open ends.

3. The combination with a hairpin comprising two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of said loop, of a channel shaped strip formed into a loop within said hairpin loop, the channels of said channel shaped strip being in sliding contact with said prongs.

4. The combination with a hairpin comprising two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action or said loop, of a channel shaped strip formed into a loop within said hairpin loop tapering towards the open ends of said prongs, the channels of said channel shaped strip being in sliding contact with said prongs.'

, 5. The combination with a'hairpin comprising ,two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of said loop, of a channel shaped strip formed into an open loop within said hairpin loop, the channels of said channel shaped strip being in sliding contact with said prongs.

6; The combinationwith a hairpin comprising two prongs connected by a loop and held close together by the spring action of said loop, of a strip channel shaped except for its middle portion and formed into a loop within said hairpin loop by bending said strip about said middle portion.

the channels of said strip being in sliding contact 

